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First let me say that I love the fact there is an adult book with illustrations!!!! They are both realistic and metaphorical many times, but seeing a dragon in a tree is still cool, even if it is only representing the Targaryen house.

The book itself, I found enjoyable. It was about half the size of the other Game of Thrones books, which I found encouraging before I even read the first page.

The story takes place about a century before we know the realm, before the Mad King and the Lannister house became feared. Long before the Starks and Baratheons became friends, or any of the drama we know has began to shift into place.

The story begins on a sorrowful note, but it sets the high standard our fumbling hero, Dunk, holds himself to. Despite being from Flea Bottom, finds himself an upstanding, if still lowly, hedge knight.

His character is likable, a Westerosi underdog, who somehow kept his morals. Which were taught to him from his old, lovable hedge knight he squired to.

His adventures are entertaining as they are chivalrous, upholding the old ways of a knight, even as it fades away.

I should note that I adore backstories, so I loved this collection of short stories about Dunk and his mysterious squire, Egg.

If you also enjoy backstories, consider trying this short-hand version of Game of Thrones, with a fresh view on the land and history.

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This book was very interesting, although there were lulls and my own thoughts about the tactics of the author, and through-out my readings I frequently paused and researched the story – I had to investigate the strange tale myself!!

The story behind the story seems equally interesting, as bad reviews pull in outside and unconfirmed reports I have yet to see if there is any truth in them.

But to focus on the tale at hand, in 2013 a small town in Maine made national headlines.

The prologue begins 20 years beforehand, when a 20 year old man decided to abandon the atypical American life. (If we lived elsewhere, would that behavior be usual at all?) And a small, remote area of cabins and a camp for the mentally and physically challenged children and adults (I believe? I read it awhile ago at this point) Someone was stealing items of various use, an old watch here and batteries year round.

Not all of the items were missed, and some did not have any financial value but only sentimental importance. Like an old watch no one could possibly miss was really the last watch a father gave his son before dying.

Similar things were taken from the many seasonal cabins around the area, despite the residents varied feelings about the thief. At first they must have been alarmed, was it some psychotic monster breaking into their homes, their safety nets only to leave them afraid and vulnerable? After a time, with no clues for the police to follow and nothing more to do about it than get used to it.

Some offered him money or food, pleading him not to steal but leave a note of what he needs and they would be happy to provide it for him free of charge.

Was he too proud to take the gifts? Did he see them as handouts that he thought he was not so desperate for? Soon the residents became angry that he would rather steal than let them help him.

This story is interesting in the fact of: what would make a 20 year old drive past his house, further and further north until he ran out of road. It is more than an impulse to live 27 years in isolation, surviving harsh Maine winters with stolen items.

His story is not like the martyr stories we may be used to like that of Chris McCandless, the Into the Wild story of the ill-fated Alaskan Wilderness Tale of the ’80’s into the ’90s. Nor did he write any earth-shattering new version of Walden or anything.

He admitted to feeling terrible about his thieving ways, but not enough to stop it would seem. He entertained himself for 27 years by reading stolen book or playing stolen video games, powered by stolen batteries.

Overall, the book is a good read in order to get a feel for the story, but the book does not answer any question it produces. Why did Christopher Knight do all of this?

Despite the author’s harassment of the “hermit” after his capture, during his incarceration and even after, hunting him down at his mother’s house during parole.

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One of the great stories of our modern era. Not a glittering poetic gem in the night, but well written and undeniably intriguing!

Some of the things I read in this book literally reinvented my perception of the world.

I’ve always been a huge animal lover, but this went beyond what I thought of animals. The personality traits demonstrated by the monkeys in her troop were astounding! Due to the complexities of the emotions and social dynamics involved I believed many personality tics and their faults and graces would apply to humans, but I now understand just how little we know outside of ourselves. These animals go beyond instinct and live in a semi-perfect state balanced between understanding and instinct.

Also, the cruelties suffered because of humanity’s selfish consumption of every resource, especially those we do not control, was terrifying, then and now.

A brief plot overview:

A true story, gathered through years of verbal stories to her daughters, whom then organized into into a book.

In Columbia, her story might be like many others in many ways, but her adventure in survival must be few and far between, a true Mogli story. She was abducted before her fifth birthday from her parents garden before being abandoned somewhere deep in the Colombian jungle.

Can you even imagine? Five years old, abandoned in a strange and dangerous place with the effects of heavy sedative wearing off. No one expected her to survive.

Two days later she came across a troop of Capuchin monkeys.

The friendship consisted of: the monkeys were the first creatures that did not want to eat her or chase her off. She stayed on the outskirts of the group, copying their ways as much as she could.

Making her bed in a hollow tree trunk, she survived on basic instincts, losing her ability to speak, her clothes rotted as she outgrew them, leaving nothing but her long hair to clothe her, as she lost all inhibition with no human contact.

The structure of society, dictated by humanity itself began to fade away as the simian hierarchy becomes more important.

Honestly, everyone should read this book. The story is absolutely mind blowing and will stick with you for years. A tale of true courage and strength from within.

The stories of the monkeys slowly beginning to integrate her into their family is amazing.

One in particular was amazing. I told everyone I saw for a week about it.

It was a fruit: that was toxic when ripen or not ripe enough type situation. Obviously the monkeys could not verbally convey this to the girl, but an older father type monkey saw her eat some and immediately jumped down from his branch and pulled her into a pool of water. She was scared, but the monkey was stronger. Her panic rose as he pushed her face underwater, she was sure she would die here and now.

But he pulled her hair and her face emerged. This happened a few more times, in order to induce vomiting. Which may have saved her life.

This is a personal and passionate plea for everyone to see the documentary Unrest. It premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Special Jury Prize for Documentary Editing. It also made it to the top fifteen shortlist for documentaries eligible for an Oscar. The DVD is available for checkout at the library and is also available on Netflix for viewing. Jennifer Brea, the director, producer and author of the film, shares her journey of living with the medical condition, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), more commonly known as ME/CFS. This illness impacts every facet of Jen’s life. The view of her personal struggle is heart wrenching and awe inspiring at the same time. She is a champion in my eyes. Knowing her condition as a mother of a daughter who has ME/CFS, one can only be amazed at her inner strength and perseverance to be able to complete this daunting project and to have done it so beautifully. I can’t help but be concerned over what this may have cost her in terms of her own health.

You will be amazed at Jen Brea’s foresight to begin recording early on in her experience with ME/CFS. She holds nothing back. She kept her camera going through her most vulnerable moments. Through her use of the web, Jen enlarged her world exponentially; communicating with others worldwide struggling with this illness (including my daughter), organizing demonstrations to raise awareness, and speaking with researchers about current developments and ongoing funding needs. This documentary has the potential to break down the walls of the medical world and to shake up those who decide how the limited research money will be allocated. The incredible determination of those in this film and the strong woman who created it will hopefully move you to take action.

Right now this illness is going unnoticed by most of the world. That’s why the most recent demonstration of ME/CFS patients was called Millions Missing. At the global protests, pairs of ME/CFS patients’ empty shoes, along with a brief bio, were displayed in front of the Department of Health and Human Services Offices in many cities throughout the world. Patients, Caregivers and family members demanded that this illness no longer be ignored. ME/CFS needs immediate attention. I sent my daughter’s black poke-a-dot shoes to Chicago.People with ME/CFS are often unable to make the herculean effort of demonstrating in person. They struggle with the most basic functions of life. Their voices have gone unheard. They are too ill to get out of bed. 25 percent of ME/CFS patients are housebound or bedridden. Their condition is often brushed off as being psychosomatic. I know it is not that. I witness it every day.

My daughter, Karina, came down with ME/CFS after she was ill with Mononucleosis. That was in 2014. Today she is housebound and frequently bedridden. She hasn’t left the house except for doctor’s appointments since July of 2016, when we took her for a drive to see the sunflowers at Pope Farm Conservancy. I didn’t know that would be the last time she would be able to endure an outing in her wheelchair. She suffers from debilitating pain all over her body. She tolerates neither noise nor stimulation. She is allergic to nearly all foods, scents, chemicals and most of her medications. She suffers from post exertional malaise (PEM). PEM is one of our greatest challenges. The littlest bit of physical exertion will set Karina back for weeks. That last outing to see the sunflowers cost Karina dearly by worsening all her ME/CFS symptoms. Her body just doesn’t use energy the way it should, and yet her mind works and works to solve the mystery of ME/CFS.

Karina is a brilliant researcher. In four years she completed her Bachelors and Masters Degrees, earning degrees in Neuroscience and Biology. She should be in her 2nd year at Tufts University School of Medicine where she was accepted as a sophomore in college on the early assurance program; instead she is imprisoned in a body that fails her at every turn. I won’t go into any more detail. It will only make me weep.

We need to do more than cry. We need help! We need money for research to better understand the pathology and to develop effective treatments. ME/CFS research is underfunded, at only $6.00 per patient. The National Insitiute of Health’s Research portfolio shows the disparity of funding in great detail. I beg you to see this documentary. Tell your family and neighbors about the documentary. If you are so moved, please support the research effort by making a donation to the Open Medicine Foundation, whose advisory board includes three Nobel Laureates and six National Academy of Science members who are assisting in the search for biomarkers, and treatments for ME/CFS. Visit www.unrest.film/time-for-unrest to see how you can make a difference in the lives of those who suffer from ME/CFS. Please sign the petition insisting that the National Institutes of Health increase research funding for ME/CFS.

If you are interested in reading more about ME/CFS, the Institute of Medicine’s guide will provide more detailed information. I wish I could tell you there is a cure. But to date there is no real treatment or cure. This disease is so complex; it impacts nearly ALL systems in the body, including the circulation, metabolism, digestion, immune system, and nervous system. It impacts all functions of the human body. The exact array of symptoms and limitations manifests itself differently from patient to patient. Universally, everyone gets worse with physical and mental exertion (PEM).

Currently, estimates show that 2.5 million American have ME/CFS. Global estimates are as high as 17 to 30 million. No one is protected from this illness. It can take over your life or the life of a loved one. ME/CFS has claimed my daughter. I want my daughter to have her life back. I want Karina to have a life outside of her small bedroom.

I pray that this documentary will speak for the “millions missing” and their families. To all who hear my cry, to all who know our struggle and have helped us, to all who have already watched the documentary, please know how much you are loved! For those whom I’ve persuaded to view Unrest, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

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I am at home recovering from yet another surgery on my left leg following the accident that injured my leg and brain in October 2016. Due to my injuries, I haven’t been able to read like I use to. The hit on my head impacted my ability to focus; it stole my greatest pleasure…reading. I am taking baby steps in building up my attention span and my ability to read and remember the story.My Brigadista Year by Katherine Paterson captured my attention right away. I couldn’t put it down. It’s a children’s historical fiction title that can be enjoyed by all ages. The story takes place in Cuba in 1961. Then Prime Minister Fidel Castro had a mission to create an illiterate-free country in 12 months. A volunteer brigade was formed to teach the farmers and their families how to read and write. The story follows 13-year-old volunteer, Lora, as she joins the army of teachers and ventures outside her privileged life in the city of Havana.
For one year she would live with a family in the country; working side by side with them by daylight and teaching them to read and write by lamplight at night. Lora gives her students a new life. Literacy helps open the doors of opportunity. All who participated in this mission are forever changed by the intimate exchange of lives and lifestyles.
This story is based on the historical events in 1960 when Fidel Castro announced his plan, to the United Nations, to educate the entire population of Cuba. By 1961 more than 700,000 Cubans had learned to read and write. In one year the literacy rate in Cuba went from 60% to 96%, earning Cuba the title of illiterate-free nation. This is an inspiring story of the value of literacy and the joy of teaching. May it inspire all of us who love to read to help improve our own country’s literacy rates.

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This is an old movie in Hollywood standards. A black and white film, it encapsulates the early ’60’s horror movie and a twisted tale of hate and jealousy and so much more.

This is a famous still from it, on the left is Bette Davis as Jane and the right is Joan Crawford as Blanche.

My first take on the film was positive, the characters are believable in their individual paths of torment. The typical lifestyle of that time was lost on me, however, and some comedic moments would have been frightening when it came out. The scale of society’s fear and disgust have obviously morphed since then, making it something Elvira or Mystery Science Theater 3000 would make fun of.

I could not tell from the film itself, but Bette Davis went extreme in her character transformation. Compared to Joan’s normal pallor in this picture, you can see Bette’s face is ghost-like in appearance, caked on with white makeup and a beauty mark with dark red lips. A striking picture indeed.

What peaked my interest (in the original movie) was the show The Feud, that aired on FX earlier this year. It enlarges the scene to paint the lives of these two women in 1962, cast out of Hollywood for young replacements, creating a cycle of viciousness between the cast in order to distract from the directors and producers playing with perception and emotion. The outright manipulation used to oppose Bette and Joan is tragic.

The film’s ending mirrors the tragedy in reality, the two entertainers and women could have been friends.

If not for being unfairly pitted against each other so they would not test the male dominated field at that time. The callous disregard for mutual respect, even though these two similar women could have taken on the entire studio and changed things before their time.

Alas.

The only thing to prevent any continuance, is to learn from history and be aware not to repeat it.